Lanolin composition and method of preparing same



2,840,509 Patented June 24, 1958 ice LANOLHN COMPOSHTIUN AND METHOD OF PREPARING SAME I Gus S. Kass, Chicago, Ill, assignor to Saint Cornelius The Centurion Chapel of Valley Forge Military Academy, Wayne, Pa, a church corporation Application December 30, 1954 Serial No. 478,901

s Claims. c1. 167-90) No Drawing.

compositions, the lanolin forms a water-in-oil phase. In

use, tackiness is a characteristic of such preparations. In United States Letters Patent No. 2,498,727, issued to Jack R. Verblen on February 28, 1950, entitled Isopropyl Pahnitate Solution of Lanolin Cosmetic, there is described and claimed a new lanolin composition comprising lanolin and an oil, wherein the lanolin and oil are made substantially compatible by the presence of a third ingredient, namely, isopropyl palmitate or certain other esters closely related thereto. These esters are formed of alcohols having from 2 to 5 carbon atoms (either normal, secondary or tertiary) combined with higher molecular weight fatty acids having from 12 to 19 carbon atoms (either saturated or unsaturated).

In contrast, I have found that relatively less expensive ingredients may be used with or in the place of such esters to carry out a function comparable to that carried out by such esters. These other ingredients are certain oil-soluble alkoxylated compounds which will be described in detail hereinafter. the discovery that these alkoxylated compounds may be used to replace part or all of the esters mentioned in U. S. Patent No. 2,498,727.

It is thus an object of my invention to provide an improved lanolin composition, and method of making the same.

It is a further object of my invention to provide cosmetic preparations having high lanolin content in comparatively thin solution, which spread easily on the skin without tackiness, and which may be made up in the form of a non-aqueous composition wherein the lanolin is substantially in (colloidal) solution.

Other objects, features and advantages of my invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed disclosure thereof.

My invention consists in a cosmetic which is liquid at room temperature, consisting essentially of -50% by weight of lanolin, at least 10% by weight of oil as a diluent imparting liquid properties to the composition at room temperature, and up to 65% by weight of an oil-soluble alkoxylated compound selected from compounds having the following formulae R(OR) OH and R(OR) OR wherein each R is a hydrocarbonradical, R' is a C -C alkylene group and x is an integer from 1 to 20.

In the compositions of my invention, the lanolin content may range from about 10% to as much as about 50%, the terms parts and percent as used herein meaning parts and percent by weight, unless otherwise My invention resides in Patent 0 designated. In general, an advantage of the instant invention is that'lanolin concentrations of substantial magnitude may be used and, preferably, the lanolin content is about 20-35%. 5

The amount of cosmetic oil used in the instant composition is, of course, an amount sufiicient to impart a liquid consistency to the instant composition at room temperature and the oilis added as a diluent for this purpose. advantage as well as diluting effect from the use of an oil the amount of 'oil used should be at least about In order to obtain any appreciable economic 10% (although in specific instances, less oil maybe used as a diluent). The maximum amount of oil that should be used as a diluent is about 70 to 75% in order to permit the presence of appreciable quantities of lanolin and the alkoxylated compound in the resulting composition. The cosmetic oil of choice in most instances is cosmetic grade refined mineral oil. (or mineral oil U. S. P.)

' and this is the cosmetic oil preferred for use in the practice of my invention. However, cosmetic grade vegetable oils may be used in place of all or part of the mineral oil and such oils include cottonseed oil, peanut oil, castor oil, sesame oil and the like;

As is customary in cosmetic formulations of the instant general type, it will be. appreciated that small amounts (usually less than about 1%) of perfume oils and antioxidants may also be added to the instant compositions. 1

'The third ingredient of significance which is used in my composition is an alkoxylated compound. Such compounds are known generally and they are prepared by the alkoxylation of an'alcohol'with ethylene oxide and/o'r'propylene oxide; or alternatively, by the etherification of polyethylene glycol and/ or polypropylene glycol with one or more alcohols. In general, alcohols ranging from the simplest alcohol (i. e., methanol) to extremely high molecular weight and complicated alcohols, such as cholesterol, have some (although slight) dissolving powers with respect to lanolin and cosmetic oils, but in most instances, the actual dissolving ability v is so small that such alcohols cannot be used as a practical matter to effect the formation of stable homogeneous lanolin-oil cosmetic compositions. Also, of course, some of the lower alcohols are too irritating to the skin of the user. 'The instant invention, however, is based upon a discovery that the alkoxylated form of such alcohols has distinctly superior ability as 'a so-called coupling agent for effecting the formation of stable homogeneous lanolin-oil cosmetic compositions. As used herein, the alkoxylated form of an alcohol is intended to mean an alcohol-polyglycol ether, whether such compound is formed by a process of alkoxylating the alcohol with ethylene and/or propylene glycol or by a process of etherifying a polypropylene or polyethylene glycol with the alcohol. a

The invention is further based upon the discovery that certain specific members of the so-called alkoxylated? compounds are uniquely superior for use in the instant invention, and these compounds are the ethers resulting from the replacement of at least one terminal hydroxy Since some of the instant alkoxylated compounds are solid or semi-solid at room temperatures, the term oilsoluble as used herein means soluble in oils such as mineral oil at least at a temperature at which the alkoxylated compound and the mineral oil are both liquids. In other words, if an alkoxylated compound is solid at room temperature but melts at, for example, 100 F., it must be soluble in mineral oil (or completely miscible therewith) at 100 F.

Referring again to the alkyl polypropylene glycol ethers preferred for use in the practice of the instant invention, it will be notedthat polypropylene glycol ether of butanol, polypropylene glycol di-ether of butanol and polypropylene glycol di-ether of butanol and ethanol have been found to be most satisfactory. Typical formulations of this type include:

Formulation 2 7 Parts (1) Lanolin 30.0 (2) Polypropylene glycol ether of butanol (Ucon LB 135) 25.0 (3) Light mineral oil 45.0

Formulation 3 Parts (1) Lanolin 135.0 (2) Straight polypropylene glycol di-ether of bu tanol and ethanol (Ucon DLB 144E) 25.0 (3) Med. viscosity mineral oil 40.0

Formulation 4 Parts (1) Lanolin 30.0 (2) Straight polypropylene glycol of butanol (Ucon LB 135) 30.0 (3) Sesame oil, 40.0

Formulation 5 Parts (1) Lanolin 25.0 (2) Straight polypropylene glycol ether of butanol (Ucon LB 385) 25.0 (3) Light mineral oil 50.0

In the foregoing formulations, which show the use of preferred alkoxylated compounds, it will be noted that the alkoxylated compounds are liquids at room temperature. Most preferably, the alkoxylated compound used in the practice of the instant invention is a liquid at room temperature and it is also preferable that this liquid have a viscosity of about l00400 S. U. S. at 100 F. The butanol polypropylene glycol ethers (which may or may not have an alkoxy group such as butoxy or ethoxy at the opposite end of the polypropylene glycol chain) are uniquely satisfactory; and it .is unusual to note also that these butanol-polypropylene glycol ethers do not form stable colloidal systems with lanolin alone, but require the addition of the oil (vegetable or mineral) in order to produce the stable system. In the case of liquid alkoxylated compounds which may he used in the practice of the instant invention, the amount used may range from a minimum effective amount of approximately 2% of the composition to a maximum practical amount 4 of approximately of the composition, and the preferred amount is 10-40%.

It will be appreciated that the size of the hydrocarbon radicals in either of the compositions:

plus the number of alkoxy groups in the compound will determine generally its physical characteristics. On this basis, it is relatively simple to prepare an oil-soluble alkoxylated compound. It is also relatively simple to prepare a liquid alkoxylated compound rather than a solid compound (at room temperature). In general, the alcohol selected may be either a liquid, as in the case of butanol, or a solid, as in the case of higher alcohols such as the higher fatty alcohols and cholesterol. Starting with a liquid alcohol, the selection of the polyglycol chain portion of the compound and the number of alkoxy units therein may be made so as to obtain either a liquid or a solid. Thus, if a butanol-polyet-hylene glycol ether is prepared having more than a given number of ethoxy units therein, the compound will be solid at room temperature and in order to obtain a liquid it is necessary merely to use a polyethylene glycol. chain having less than this given number of ethoxy units therein. In order to obtain an oil-soluble rather than Water-soluble compound, it is necessary either to employ a higher molecular weight (or higher hydrocarbon content) alcohol and/or to use a greater number of propoxy units in the polyglycol chain, which are used as replacements for the ethoxy groups previously mentioned. The preferred alkoxylated compound, thus, is derived from a relatively short chain alcohol, i. e., butanol, and a polypropylene glycol chain, of a length sulficient to impart the required viscosity to the liquid.

In general, alcohols which are solids at room temperatures give alkoxylated compounds which are also solids at room temperatures. As previously mentioned, such compounds may be oil-soluble, however, if heated to a temperature approaching the melting point thereof. Alkoxylated compounds having melting points above about 150 C., are ordinarily not practical for use in the practice of the instant invention, because excessive heating is required in order toetfect the solution thereof and, in fact, alkoxylated compounds which will not dissolve in mineral oil at temperatures not in excess of 120? C. are not preferred. Cholesterol ethoxylated with, for example, 1 to 5 molar equivalents of ethylene oxide (and/ or propylene oxide)istypical of a solid alkoxylated product useful in the practice of the instant invention. It has been found, however, that solid alkoxylated products should ordinarily not be used in proportions as high as the liquid alkoxylated products (in order to obtain the desired liquid consistency in the final product) and, in fact, it is believed that there may be a difference in function between the solid alkoxylated compounds and the liquid 'alkoxylated compounds. The solid alkoxylated compounds may be used in proportions ranging from a minimum of about 2% to a practical maximum of about 20%, and'preferably in proportions of 3-8% of the corn- POSitlOIL' Such solid alkoxylated compounds apparently function more as a dispersing agent than as a so-called mutual solvent. Typical formulations include the following:

. Formulation 6 Pa t (1) Lanolin 20 (2) Cholesterol alkoxylated with 2 mols of ethylene oxide l0 (3) Light mineral-oil Formulation 7 V l Parts 1) Lanolin 25 (2) Lanolin Alcohols alkoxylated with 3 mols of ethylene oxide (3) Light mineral oil 70 Formulation 8 Parts (1) Lanolin 25 (2) Cholesterol alkoxylated with 1 mol of ethylene oxide 5 (3) Peanut oil 70 The so-called Lanolin Alcohols comprise a commercially available composition which is obtained by saponificattion of lanolin (or by reactions comparable to saponification whereby alcohols are released from the lanolin) and recovery of the alcohol fraction. The alcohols in the group of Lanolin Alcohols range from about a relatively small molecular weight alkoxy group for the OR group, such as C -C alkoxy group. On the other hand, the initial hydrocarbon group R in the formula just mentioned as well as in the formula R oR' on may be a relatively high molecular weight hydrocarbon radical in the range from C (butoxy) up to C21, as in cholesterol. Alcohols from butyl 'to lauryl alcohol are liquid or semi-solid at room temperatures and such alcohols are, of course, preferred in that they may be used to prepare alkoxylated compounds which are liquids at substantially room temperature. In such case, the alcohol hydrocarbon chain may be straight, branched, saturated or unsaturated. As an example, commercial lauryl alcohol cthoxylated with 3 mols of ethylene oxide may be used to replace the ethoxylated cholesterol (ingredient No. 2) of Formulation 8 so as to obtain substantially the same results.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be efiected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention;

1. A cosmetic which is liquid at room temperature, consisting essentially of 1050% by weight of lanolin, at least 10% and not more than 75% by weight of oil selected from the class consisting of mineral and vegetable oils as a diluent imparting liquid properties tothe composition at room temperature, and at least 2% and not more than 65% by weight of an oil-soluble alkoxylated compound selected from compounds having the following formulae R (OR');,; OH and R (OR'),, OR

wherein each R is a hydrocarbon radical, R is a C C alkylene group and x is an integer from 1 to 20.

a selected from the class consistingof mineral and vegetable oils as a diluent imparting liquid properties to the composition at room temperature, and at least 2% and 7 consisting essentially of 1050% by weight of lanolin,

, propylene glycol ether of butanol having a viscosityof not more than 65% by weight lanolin alcohol ethoxylated with l to 5 molar equivalents of ethylene oxide.

4. A cosmetic which is liquid at room temperature,

consisting essentially of 1050% by weight of lanolin,

at least 10% and not more than 75 by weight'of oil not'more than 65% by weight cholesterol ethoxylate'd Wlil'hl to 3 'molar equivalents of ethylene oxide.

5. A cosmetic which is liquid at room temperature,

at least 10% and not more than 75 by weight of oil selected from the class consisting of mineral and vegetable oils as a diluent imparting liquid properties to the composition at room temperature, and at least 2% and not more than 65% by weight of an oil-soluble compound that has a viscosity of 100-400 S. U. S. at 100 F. that has the following formula:

R '(OR'), OR

alkylene group-and x is an integer from 1 to 20. g

6. ,A cosmetic which is liquid at room temperature,

"wherein eachR is a hydrocarbon radical, R-is a C -C selected from'the'class consisting of mineral and vegetable oils as a diluent imparting liquid properties to the composition at room temperature, and at least' 2% and not more than 65 by weight of an oil-soluble poly- 'l00-400. S. U. S. atlOO" F.

2. A cosmetic which is liquid at room temperature, 7

consisting essentially of 1050% by weight of lanolin, at least 10% and not more than 75% by weight of oil selected from the class consisting of mineral and vegetable oils as a diluent imparting liquid properties to the composition at room temperature, and at least 2% and not more than by weight of an oil-soluble compound having the following formula R (OR'), OH

composition at room temperature, and atleast 2% and.

71A cosmetic which is liquid at room temperature, consisting essentially of 1050% by weight of lanolin, at least 10% and not more than 75% by weight or oil selected-from the class consisting of mineral 'and. vegetable oils as a diluent imparting liquid propertiesto the composition at room temperature, and at least 2% and not more than 65% by weight of an. oil-soluble polypropylene glycol di-ether of'but anol and ethanol having a viscosity of' -400 S. U. S; at 100? E. 8. A method ofmaking a cosmetic whichis'liquid at room temperature that comprisesheating a composition consisting essentially of 1050% by weightof-lanolin,

at least 10%"and-not more than 75%by weight'of oilff selected from the group consisting of mineral and vege f 'table oils as a diluent imparting liquid pr operties tothe composition at room temperature, and atfleast 2% andnot more than 65 by weight of an oil-soluble alkoxylated compounds having thefollowing compound selected from formulae treason nd R (0R1). 0R

V whereineach R is a hydrocarbon radical, R is a C1-C alkylene group and x is an integer from 1 to ZO, so as to obtain a clear homogeneous liquidr'and then chilling rapidly to room temperature.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES'PATENTS Verblen Feb. 28, 1950 Neely Nov. ll, 1952 OTHER REFERENCES Ucon, Carbide and Carbon Chem. Corp., NVY. C., 1948, pp. 3, 9, and 13 -17. 1 I j Schefian et al.: Handbook of Solvents, D. van Nostrand Co., N. Y., ,1953, pp. 165, 195, 307, 308, 353 and 415.

Well, Am. Perf. and Ess. Oil Rev., vol. 60, November 

1. A COSMETIC WHICH IS LIQUID AT ROOM TEMPERATURE, CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF 10-550% BY WEIGHT OF LANOLIN, AT LEAST 10% AND NOT MORE THAN 75% BY WEIGHT OF OIL SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF MINERAL AND VEGETABLE OILS AS A DILUENT IMPARTING LIQUID PROPERTIES TO THE COMPSITION AT ROOM TEMPERATURE, AND AT LEAST 2% AND NOT MORE THAN 65% BY WEIGHT OF AN OIL-SOLUBLE ALKOXYLATED COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE COMPOUNDS HAVING THE FOLLOWING FORMULAE 